The Burning Times
— by Charlie Murphy
In the cool of evening, they used to gather
'Neath stars in the meadows, circled near an old oak tree
At the times appointed, by the seasons of the Earth,
And the phases of the moon
In the center often stood a woman
Equal with the others but respected for her work
One of the many we call the witches
The healers and the teachers of the wisdom of the Earth
And the people grew through the knowledge she gave them:
Herbs to heal their bodies, spells to make their spirits whole
Hear them chanting, healing incantations
Calling forth the wise ones, celebrating in dance and song.
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
There were those who came to power, through domination
And they bound it in the worship, of a dead man on a cross
They sought control, of the common people
By demanding allegiance, to the church of Rome
And the Pope declared the Inquisition
It was a war against the witches,
whose power they had feared.
In this holocaust against the nature people
Nine million European women died.
And the tale is told of those who, by the hundred
Holding together, chose their death in the Sea
While chanting the praises of the Mother Goddess
A refusal of betrayal, people were dying to be free.
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Now the Earth is a witch, and the men still burn Her.
Stripping Her down with mining and the poisons of their wars.
But to us the Earth is a healer, a teacher, our mother
She weaves the web of life, that keeps us all alive
She gives us the visions to see through the chaos
She gives us our courage,
It is our will to survive!
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna